editorNPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94Elise Hu is an award-winning correspondent assigned to NPR's newest international bureau, in Seoul, South Korea. She's responsible for covering geopolitics, business and life in both Koreas and Japan. She previously covered the intersection of technology and culture for the network's on-air, online and multimedia platforms. Hu joined NPR in 2011 to coordinate the digital development and editorial vision for the StateImpact network , a state government reporting project focused on member stations. Before joining NPR, she was one of the founding reporters at The Texas Tribune , a non-profit digital news startup devoted to politics and public policy. While at the Tribune, Hu oversaw television partnerships and multimedia projects; contributed to The New York Times ' expanded Texas coverage and pushed for editorial innovation across platforms. An honors graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia's School of Journalism, she previously worked as the state political reporter for KVUE-TVNPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94Elise HuSat, 25 Nov 2017 05:04:25 +0000Elise Huhttp://kmuw.org
Elise HuThis month diners in Toronto were treated to a four-course meal at a pop-up restaurant called June's. The menu included Northern Thai leek and potato soup with a hint of curry, a pasta served with smoked arctic char followed by garlic rapini and flank steak. The entire meal was topped off with a boozy tiramisu for dessert. In addition to a mouthwatering meal, the chefs at June's also served a message which they wore on their shirts: "Break bread. Smash stigma." Worldwide there are more than 30 million people living with HIV/AIDs, including more than a million in the U.S. The two-day event was a fundraiser put on by Casey House, Canada's only stand-alone hospital for HIV/AIDS treatment. Everyone in the kitchen was HIV-positive. After running a survey in which 50 percent of Canadians said they wouldn't eat a meal knowingly prepared by someone with HIV, the hospital decided to put on the project. Casey House's CEO Joanne Simons says the point of the project was to get people talking aboutHow One Pop-Up Restaurant Is Fighting Stigma Against HIV/AIDShttp://kmuw.org/post/how-one-pop-restaurant-fighting-stigma-against-hivaids
91674 as http://kmuw.orgSat, 25 Nov 2017 02:17:00 +0000How One Pop-Up Restaurant Is Fighting Stigma Against HIV/AIDSElise HuWhen a municipal lawmaker, Yuka Ogata, brought her 7-month-old baby to her job in a male-dominated legislature, she was met with such surprise and consternation by her male colleagues that eventually, she and the baby were asked to leave. Officials of the Kumamoto Municipal Assembly, of which she's a member, said although there's no rule prohibiting infants, they booted her citing a rule that visitors are forbidden from the floor. It's a far different response by a legislative body than in Australia, where Sen. Larissa Waters was able to breast-feed her baby on the floor of Parliament. Ogata, who was able to return to the session alone, expected this kind of response in rules-bound Japan. The plenary session was her first after giving birth to her son, who stayed quiet during his time on the floor with his mom. She said she wanted to highlight the plight of working moms in her country, which ranks near the bottom on scores for gender equality — especially in politics and business.Japanese Lawmaker's Baby Gets Booted From The Floorhttp://kmuw.org/post/japanese-lawmakers-baby-gets-booted-floor
91669 as http://kmuw.orgFri, 24 Nov 2017 22:33:00 +0000Japanese Lawmaker's Baby Gets Booted From The FloorElise HuOne goal of President Trump's trip to Asia has been to rally America's allies to help put pressure on North Korea. But the mission is complicated by the fact that America's two staunchest allies in East Asia — Japan and South Korea — don't get along well when it comes to issues involving their history. Much of the friction dates to Japan's occupation of Korea in the first part of the 20th century. Tensions related to that occupation still simmer — even 70 years after South Korea was liberated. Things flared up again this year over a statue of a young girl known as the "Peace Statue." The small bronze figure depicts a girl sitting in a chair, staring straight ahead with a look of determination. She has cropped hair and wears a hanbok — a traditional Korean dress. She's barefoot. Her fist is clenched. Next to her is an empty chair. The girl memorializes women like Ahn Jeom-sun. She's now 89 and says she has visited the statue often. It symbolizes the youth she lost at age 13, when the'Comfort Woman' Memorial Statues, A Thorn In Japan's Side, Now Sit On Korean Buseshttp://kmuw.org/post/comfort-woman-memorial-statues-thorn-japans-side-now-sit-korean-buses
91137 as http://kmuw.orgMon, 13 Nov 2017 21:35:00 +0000'Comfort Woman' Memorial Statues, A Thorn In Japan's Side, Now Sit On Korean BusesElise HuAs the #MeToo movement spread across the Internet, with women coming forward sharing tales of sexual assault and harassment, South Korean women were quick to identify. Overall, violent crime numbers are considered low in South Korea, but in recent years, government statistics have shown a steady uptick in reported cases of sexual violence. And when it comes to gender equality, South Korea ranks poorly — near the bottom of all countries, in fact. As people look for solutions, understanding how the government treats these issues is a clear way to start. The public education system might be one obvious place to create greater understanding to prevent sexual assault and harassment. But critics say South Korea's schools are instead disseminating dangerous myths, including the notion of blaming victims. In March 2015, Korea's Education Ministry released updated sex education curriculum guidelines for public schools. According to the Korea Herald , which saw the full teaching manuals in 2015,South Korea's Sex Ed Guidelines Suggest Victims Are To Blame For Date Rapehttp://kmuw.org/post/south-koreas-sex-ed-guidelines-suggest-victims-are-blame-date-rape
91077 as http://kmuw.orgSat, 11 Nov 2017 22:50:00 +0000South Korea's Sex Ed Guidelines Suggest Victims Are To Blame For Date RapeElise HuDuring his visit to Tokyo on Monday, President Trump highlighted a dark moment in Japan's history when he met with families of Japanese citizens kidnapped by North Korean agents. In the 1970s, North Korea abducted at least a dozen Japanese citizens and took them to Pyongyang to train North Korean spies in Japanese language and customs. One abductee was 13. "I think it would be a tremendous signal if Kim Jong Un would send them back," Trump said at a news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe after the meeting. "That would be the start of something I think would be just something very special, if they would do that." Koichiro Iizuka, one of the relatives who met with the president, was a toddler when his mother dropped him off at day care. She never returned. "I'm turning 40 this year, and for 39 years, I haven't seen my mother. I have no memory of my mother," Iizuka said. For years, he and other family members of kidnap victims had no explanation for what happened. FinallyFamilies Of Japanese Abducted By North Korea Hope For Help From Trumphttp://kmuw.org/post/families-japanese-abducted-north-korea-hope-help-trump
90834 as http://kmuw.orgMon, 06 Nov 2017 17:42:00 +0000Families Of Japanese Abducted By North Korea Hope For Help From TrumpElise HuJapanese voters have just days left to decide who they will support in a snap general election set for Sunday. Japanese politics are usually tame. But this time around, the charismatic governor of Tokyo is adding unexpected elements to the race. Yuriko Koike is keeping a nonstop schedule these days — dashing from one campaign event to another. Last Friday, rain didn't keep her from revving up crowds at rush hour in Shibuya, the Tokyo district renowned for the giant crush of people at its street crossing. "Let us look at what we can do now to change Japan, and dare ourselves to do so," Koike said, speaking of her Kibo no To party — which translates to Party of Hope. The party emerged just weeks ago to challenge the ruling party led by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. "For seizing the issues and recognizing that there was a window of opportunity, I think she deserves a good deal of credit," says Tobias Harris, a Japan analyst with Teneo Intelligence. Koike is a savvy politician and a telegenicTokyo Governor Hopes Her New 'Party Of Hope' Will Shake Up Japanese Politicshttp://kmuw.org/post/tokyo-governor-shakes-japanese-elections-her-new-party
90119 as http://kmuw.orgFri, 20 Oct 2017 12:19:00 +0000Tokyo Governor Hopes Her New 'Party Of Hope' Will Shake Up Japanese PoliticsElise HuSouth Korea faces a chronic dirty air problem that makes it one of the most polluted countries in the world . It's common to hear that neighboring China is to blame, but a joint study by NASA and the Korean government has found there's a lot South Korea can do on its own to cut the smog. On many days of the year, a thick industrial haze blankets the capital city of Seoul, where some 25 million people live in the metropolitan area. The health effects can be seen in hospitals, with patients complaining of wheezing and coughing that won't go away. Dr. Kim Sang-heon, who practices internal medicine at Hanyang University Medical Center, says since there's a clear link between pollution and respiratory illnesses, he preaches smog avoidance to his patients. "I usually say stay home if they hear it is high," Kim says. High concentrations in the air of PM 2.5 — fine particulate matter that can get deep in your lungs — are a relatively common occurrence in Seoul. A ranking released in FebruaryArmed With NASA Data, South Korea Confronts Its Choking Smoghttp://kmuw.org/post/armed-nasa-data-south-korea-confronts-its-choking-smog
89646 as http://kmuw.orgTue, 10 Oct 2017 09:37:00 +0000Armed With NASA Data, South Korea Confronts Its Choking SmogElise HuIn his latest tweet about North Korea, President Trump gave leader Kim Jong Un a new nickname — "Rocket Man" — and seems to indicate he thinks sanctions on the country are working: "Long gas lines forming in North Korea. Too bad!" Trump wrote. But are they, really? And what, if anything, could that tell us about the North Korean economy right now? Here's what we know: North Korea gets most of its oil from China. "It's a clear fact that North Korea is being managed by China, up to the point that it can survive on it," Yang Moo-jin, a professor at Seoul's University of North Korean Studies, told the Hankook Ilbo newspaper. A week ago, the United Nations Security Council passed resolution 2375, which sanctions North Korea for its nuclear and missile programs. The U.S. claims the latest "toughest yet" sanctions, after implementation, could cut down by 30 percent the oil products going to North Korea and by extension, dampen the North Korean economy. Are gas lines forming in Pyongyang? NotFuel Shortages And The North Korean Economy, Explained http://kmuw.org/post/fuel-shortages-and-north-korean-economy-explained
88729 as http://kmuw.orgMon, 18 Sep 2017 14:27:00 +0000Fuel Shortages And The North Korean Economy, Explained Elise HuNorth Korea's neighbor of Japan is growing more alarmed by Pyongyang's advancing nuclear program, especially after a North Korean missile flew over the Japanese island of Hokkaido last week. It has led many residents to rethink the threat, even though they acknowledge they're largely powerless in this high-stakes geopolitical tussle. Millions of residents in northern Japan got an early morning wake-up call last Tuesday, with a government text message just after 6 a.m. saying North Korea fired a missile that would pass through the skies. "Missile alert, missile alert," the warning began. The official instructions that followed said to take cover underground or in a strong building. Days later, in small towns in Hokkaido, the alert went off again as part of a municipally organized evacuation drill, so residents can feel more prepared should a missile fly by again. Locals — mostly retirees — joined students at Maple Tree Elementary, where classes of children as young as 5 were guided byIn Hokkaido, Being In North Korea's Missile Flight Path Means Cold War-Era Drills http://kmuw.org/post/hokkaido-being-north-koreas-missile-flight-path-means-cold-war-era-drills
88338 as http://kmuw.orgFri, 08 Sep 2017 09:15:00 +0000In Hokkaido, Being In North Korea's Missile Flight Path Means Cold War-Era Drills Elise HuCopyright 2017 NPR. To see more, visit DAVID GREENE, HOST: So we definitely want to spend some time this morning talking about North Korea maybe - maybe - testing a hydrogen bomb. But let's start with some news out of the White House last night on immigration. MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST: Right. That news is that tomorrow, President Trump will announce he is ending DACA - DACA being the program that protects so-called DREAMers. These are the young immigrants who came to the U.S. illegally as children. But David, it sounds like he - that won't take effect straight away. He's going to delay implementation by six months. GREENE: OK, NPR's Ron Elving is here to talk about all of this. Ron, good morning. RON ELVING, BYLINE: Good morning, David. GREENE: Let's start with DACA. What exactly is the White House saying at this point? ELVING: They are saying nothing officially. But several news... GREENE: OK, (laughter). Well, that's helpful. ELVING: Well, they are saying nothing officially, and thatNews Brief: North Korean Nukes, Trump's Response, Harvey's Toxic Effectshttp://kmuw.org/post/news-brief-north-korean-nukes-trumps-response-harveys-toxic-effects
88158 as http://kmuw.orgMon, 04 Sep 2017 09:10:00 +0000News Brief: North Korean Nukes, Trump's Response, Harvey's Toxic EffectsElise HuUpdated at 4:00 p.m. ET Sunday: North Korea claims it has again tested a hydrogen bomb underground and that it "successfully" loaded it onto the tip of an intercontinental ballistic missile, a claim that if true, crosses a "red line" drawn by South Korea's president last month. In a state media announcement, North Korea confirmed the afternoon tremors in its northeast were indeed caused by the test of a nuclear device, and that leader Kim Jong Un personally signed off on the test. "North Korea has conducted a major Nuclear Test. Their words and actions continue to be very hostile and dangerous to the United States," President Trump tweeted Sunday morning in response. "North Korea is a rogue nation which has become a great threat and embarrassment to China, which is trying to help but with little success." Trump met with his national security advisers at the White House on Sunday to discuss the test. Defense Secretary James Mattis said the president wanted to be briefed on the "many"North Korea Claims Successful Hydrogen Bomb Testhttp://kmuw.org/post/north-korea-possibly-conducts-sixth-nuclear-test-south-korea-says
88119 as http://kmuw.orgSun, 03 Sep 2017 05:04:00 +0000North Korea Claims Successful Hydrogen Bomb TestElise HuA South Korean court's decision Friday to sentence Lee Jae-yong, the de facto leader of Samsung, to five years in prison on corruption charges is reverberating across the country. The nation's economy and Samsung's fortunes have been inextricably linked for decades. Now both face questions about what they'll look like going forward. Lee, also known as Jay Y. Lee, stood silently as he learned his fate inside a Seoul courtroom. Outside, nationalist supporters of Lee — and ousted former President Park Geun-hye — didn't hold back, screaming that the judge and prosecutors should release him. Choi Tae-son was one of the demonstrators angry with the guilty verdict. "Guilty means if he's guilty, then she's guilty," Choi said. "She" in this case refers to the former president, who is standing trial on her own charges of criminal bribery and abuse of power. Park was impeached and removed from office in the spring, in a sprawling public corruption scandal linked to Lee. The court convicted Lee onWill Samsung Case Mark A Turning Point For South Korean Business Ties To Government?http://kmuw.org/post/will-samsung-case-mark-turning-point-south-korean-business-ties-government
87737 as http://kmuw.orgFri, 25 Aug 2017 16:03:00 +0000Will Samsung Case Mark A Turning Point For South Korean Business Ties To Government?Elise HuA court in South Korea has found the de facto leader of Samsung, Lee Jae-yong, guilty in a corruption case involving South Korea's former president. The court in Seoul sentenced the billionaire Lee to five years in prison on a string of corruption charges, including bribery, embezzlement and perjury. Here's what you need to know: What's Lee going to jail for? Lee, who also goes by the name Jay Y. Lee, was ensnared in the scandal that led to the historic impeachment and removal of South Korea's former president, Park Geun-hye, this March. At issue for Lee was whether he helped donate Samsung money to slush funds started by the president's consigliere in exchange for government support of a controversial Samsung merger. The merger, which was approved, was good for the family control of the company, but widely seen as not favorable for shareholders. Ultimately the court ruled there was sufficient evidence that bribery was involved there. Samsung has now responded, saying it cannot acceptWhat A Tech Leader's Corruption Conviction Means For Samsung And South Koreahttp://kmuw.org/post/what-tech-leaders-corruption-conviction-means-samsung-and-south-korea
87728 as http://kmuw.orgFri, 25 Aug 2017 10:46:00 +0000What A Tech Leader's Corruption Conviction Means For Samsung And South KoreaElise HuNorth Korea is issuing fresh threats against the United States as a 10-day computer-based military exercise gets under way on the Korean peninsula. It's an annual joint drill between American and South Korean forces, but this year, it comes following a bitter back-and-forth between North Korea and U.S. President Donald Trump. Joint exercises happen twice a year — once in March, again in August. The U.S. has always maintained these are purely defensive and to keep the two militaries prepared in case of an unplanned event like a missile strike. North Korea, however, has long viewed the exercises as rehearsals for invasion. Its top propaganda paper, the Rodong Sinmun , on Sunday wrote the exercise is "the most explicit expression of hostility against" North Korea, would be like "pouring gasoline on fire" and worsen the state of the peninsula. "The Korean People's Army is keeping a high alert, fully ready to contain the enemies. It will take resolute steps the moment even a slight sign ofFresh Threats From Pyongyang As Joint Military Exercise Beginshttp://kmuw.org/post/fresh-threats-pyongyang-joint-military-exercise-begins
87530 as http://kmuw.orgMon, 21 Aug 2017 08:32:00 +0000Fresh Threats From Pyongyang As Joint Military Exercise BeginsElise HuThe tiny U.S. territory of Guam came under the international spotlight after North Korea said Wednesday that it's studying whether to launch a missile test toward the island. President Trump responded by escalating the rhetoric. "Let's see what he does with Guam," Trump said of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un from his golf club in Bedminster, N.J. "If he does something in Guam, it will be an event the likes of which nobody has seen before what will happen in North Korea." The president spoke with Guam Gov. Eddie Baza Calvo on Saturday to reassure him and residents here. The call happened as some Guamanians worried aloud that the president's harsh words are exposing their island home to unnecessary danger. It's a tropical paradise with white sand beaches and stunning sunsets, but this American territory, since 1898, was fought over for centuries for a different reason. "Guam is the largest island between Hawaii and the Philippines, and it has a natural deep seawater port," says RobertTrump's Rhetoric Renews Debate In Guam: Is Being 'Tip Of The Spear' Worth It?http://kmuw.org/post/trumps-rhetoric-renews-debate-guam-being-tip-spear-worth-it
87159 as http://kmuw.orgSat, 12 Aug 2017 12:10:00 +0000Trump's Rhetoric Renews Debate In Guam: Is Being 'Tip Of The Spear' Worth It?Elise HuThe escalating threats between the U.S. and North Korea have thrown the tiny U.S. territory of Guam into the headlines. North Korea this week threatened to create an "enveloping fire" around the strategically important Pacific island, located about 2,100 miles to its southeast. But life here seems to go on as usual. At Mosa's Joint, in Guam's capital Hagatna, Thursday happy hour lasts until 8 p.m. The place fills up fast with locals and military personnel, "kind of a little bit of everything," says Monique Genereux, who opened the bar and restaurant a few years ago. Despite North Korea's threat against Guam this week, she says folks are keeping their cool. "It's a very serious topic for sure, and it can be scary, but you know, if it's gonna happen, it's gonna happen," she says. One of the regulars is Gary Hartz. He plays in a psychedelic blues band every week and is a dean at the local community college. "There are many moods on Guam right now," Hartz says. "Some people [say], 'We justOn Guam, The Mood Is Calm Despite Being In North Korea's Crosshairshttp://kmuw.org/post/guam-mood-calm-despite-being-north-koreas-crosshairs
87075 as http://kmuw.orgThu, 10 Aug 2017 17:23:00 +0000On Guam, The Mood Is Calm Despite Being In North Korea's CrosshairsElise HuFollowing North Korea's second test of an intercontinental ballistic missile last Friday, President Trump didn't hold back: "I am very disappointed in China," he tweeted. Then he brought up China's trade surplus with the U.S., saying despite it, "They do NOTHING for us with North Korea, just talk." On Monday, China's official news agency, Xinhua, responded in an editorial : "Emotional venting cannot become a guiding policy for solving the nuclear issue on the peninsula." Such is the state of public diplomacy between these two global powers in the face of an advancing nuclear threat in Northeast Asia. So far, to try to achieve more cooperation with China, Trump has gone from trying to charm Chinese President Xi Jinping at Mar-a-Lago to tweeting his disappointment — and now, openly threatening the U.S.-Chinese trade relationship. But the extent of China's influence on North Korea isn't as sweeping — or straightforward — as it may seem. Here are some key questions: How much can ChinaChina's Leverage — And Its Limits — In North Korea http://kmuw.org/post/chinas-leverage-and-its-limits-north-korea
86852 as http://kmuw.orgFri, 04 Aug 2017 17:00:00 +0000China's Leverage — And Its Limits — In North Korea Elise HuEarly Friday morning on the Korean peninsula, North Korea launched its second intercontinental ballistic missile inside of a month. Nuclear experts say the latest test improved on than the last one, with a range that could reach most of the continental United States. "This launch demonstrates our surprise attack capability," North Korean state media quoted leader Kim Jong Un as saying. "It also proves that the mainland U.S. is within our shooting range." North Korea says the missile was another Hwasong-14, the same type tested on July 4. That launch was the first to reach a distance that the American military considered an intercontinental ballistic missile. In response, South Korea's Defense Minister appeared before cameras with a terse statement: "We will start discussions with U.S. Forces in Korea to temporarily place THAAD launchers and form a system of response to North Korea," Defense Minister Song Young-mu said. THAAD is the U.S. missile defense system that has begun gettingAnalysts: North Korea Improves Its Capabilities With Each Missile Test http://kmuw.org/post/analysts-north-korea-improves-its-capabilities-each-missile-test
86561 as http://kmuw.orgSat, 29 Jul 2017 11:56:00 +0000Analysts: North Korea Improves Its Capabilities With Each Missile Test Elise HuSouth Korea is one of the world's richest nations, a modern place with trends changing as fast as its Internet speeds. But when it comes to some social issues, the country has been slow to change — especially for gays and lesbians. While there are shows of support — this month, a record 85,000 people turned up at Seoul's annual pride festival, for example — recent events indicate South Korea's institutions and political class are only reluctantly tolerating sexual minorities. "We have to get more sexual minorities to vocalize their opinions and feel safe to come out of the closet," said theater actor Lee Sang-hoon, a gay man who goes by the stage name Summer. His troupe was in the parade and dressed in lingerie for a skit at its booth. It was one of the 110 exhibitors at Seoul's pride fest, which was — as in previous years — protected by barriers and lines of police. It felt like a party inside the plaza. But outside, thousands of anti-gay Christian protesters demonstrated against theFor South Korea's LGBT Community, An Uphill Battle For Rightshttp://kmuw.org/post/south-koreas-lgbt-community-uphill-battle-rights
86352 as http://kmuw.orgTue, 25 Jul 2017 13:49:00 +0000For South Korea's LGBT Community, An Uphill Battle For RightsElise HuIf an event is branded as annual but it happens only once, can it still be called annual? This is the case for Pyongyang's "annual" Taedonggang Beer Festival, the second of which was slated to take place during August. China-based tour company Koryo Tours, which is among the go-to tour groups organizing trips into North Korea, writes on its blog that it was "informed" North Korean organizers have canceled the event . "The reason for the cancellation is unclear and we don't expect full information to be forthcoming but it is possibly down to the ongoing drought in the country that has caused a great deal of trouble," Koryo writes. According to Koryo, last year's event was a good opportunity to try some local brews and mingle with locals. A menu from the 2016 fest shows several types of draft beers, fried chicken and mutton on a stick available for purchase. North Korean alcohol is a curiosity for many connoisseurs around the globe, especially given its announcement last year that itsNorth Korea Mysteriously Shuts Down Its Beer Festivalhttp://kmuw.org/post/north-korea-mysteriously-shuts-down-its-beer-festival
86338 as http://kmuw.orgTue, 25 Jul 2017 06:49:00 +0000North Korea Mysteriously Shuts Down Its Beer Festival